Click the tartan to view its entry in The Scottish Registers of Tartans which includes registration details, restrictions, and registrant information.
Unregistered tartans may link to one of the web's online design environments for similar information.
For any questions about reproduction of designs or weaving of these tartans, please contact the registrant directly or via this website.
Snowman Day
"🎶 Do you want to build a snowman?
Come on, let's go and play!
I never see you anymore,
Come out the door,
It's like you've gone away!"
~ "Do You Want to Build a Snowman", Frozen, 2013
World Snowman Day is celebrated each year on January 18th, a date chosen because the number "18" cleverly mirrors the form of a snowman: the "8" represents the snowman's round body, while the "1" suggests his stick or broom. This tartan's blue variant was designed to represent the colours and feelings associated with snow: white, grey, blue, lavender, and the soft, hard, sharp and cold impressions of thewide variety of Alaskan snow.
In the northern hemisphere, January often brings the coldest and snowiest days of the year. Though winter's chill can be harsh, frosty days with a hint of sunshine offer breathtaking beauty. Snow shadows cast on fresh drifts create mesmerizing shades of blue, while newly falling snow can glow with a pinkish hue as low-hanging clouds scatter light in the red and pink spectrum. In rare cases, patches of naturally pink snow appear, tinted by red-hued algae within the flakes. When conditions are perfect, the temptation to craft a snowman is nearly irresistible.
Snowman-making has a long and storied history, dating back to the Middle Ages. Even Michelangelo was once commissioned by Piero de' Medici in 1494 to create an artistic snowman, a testament to the enduring appeal of this wintry tradition. When the bitter winds subside and the snow is just right for rolling and packing, let your creativity shine. Use sticks, acorns, rocks, and even a classic carrot to bring your snowman to life. For an extra touch of style, drape him in a tartan scarf—because even snowmen deserve a little Scottish flair. 💙 🤍 💜 ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ☃️ ☃️ ☃️
Not all snowmen are friendly and handmade! The Yeti, the Abominable Snowman, and Bigfoot are all known to visit snowy climes.
From Mental Floss:
The Yeti is the oldest legend of the bunch. Lore of a man-like beast in the Himalayas has its roots in pre-Buddhist religion. The Lepcha people recognized a supernatural "Glacier Being" as one of their hunting gods and the ruler of all the forest's creatures. It wasn't until later that an early version of the term "Yeti" emerged. Most experts believe it derives from a Sherpa word, possibly yeh-teh meaning "small, man-like animal" or meti meaning "bear." The Yeti starred as the antagonist of many cautionary folk tales shared by the Sherpa people. In their legends, the creature was depicted as an apelike man who left large tracks in the snow.
The phrase Abominable Snowman appeared relatively recently, and was born out of a messy mistranslation. In 1921, a contributor to an Indian English-language newspaper interviewed explorers returning from the British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. They spoke of seeing large footprints on the mountain their guides attributed to Metoh-Kangmi. Kangmi translates to "Snowman" and Metoh to "Man-Bear"— the writer got the last half of that equation right but misinterpreted metoh as "filthy." Instead of writing "Filthy Snowman" he decided he liked the sound of "Abominable" better and the nickname stuck.
Bigfoot is thought to be native to North America, specifically the Pacific Northwest. Tales of ape-like wild men inhabiting that region can be traced back to indigenous communities—"Sasquatch" is derived from sésquac, a Halkomelem word meaning "wild man"—but the name "Bigfoot" is a 20th century original invention.
Best to stick with the handmade variety during the snowy season if possible.
For more interesting facts about friendly snowmen, click the snowy scene!